Blank advancing means



G. A. .Anim-:mmv` 2,451,648

` BLANK ADVANCI'NG MEANS y I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 oct'. 19 1941sv Filed Feb. 15, 1946 0ct.19 19489 Gf@ A. ANDERSON A I2,451,648

` BLANK ADVANCING MEANS s sheets-sheet 2 "Filed Feb. 15,1946 Y @as 7774/517. HNOE/RoAg,

oct. 1,9 1948. @AANDE'RSON 2,451,648

' BLANK l.laDvANcING MEANS i 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 15, 1946 Patented Oct. 19, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ena-NK ADVANCLNG MEANS Gustave A, Anderson, New York, N. assigner to The International Handkerchief Mfg. Co., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 15, 1946,`Serial No; 647,784

1 Claim. (C1. 19:3;170

This yinvention relates to blank feeding means for apparatus for making handkerchiefs and like articles, and in particular the invention relates to blank feeding means for apparatus of the general `type shown in United States Patent No. 2,053,257.

In the patent to which reference is made there is illustrated and described an apparatus for producing handkerchiefs in finished form from a web. of material (which isY preferably already hemmed along its longitudinal edges) entirely automatically.

Brieny, the general plan of operation of the apparatus disclosed in that patent is as follows.

The web material, previously hemmed on its longitudinal edges before it enters the apparatus from the side, is gripped and approximately the required amount to form a handkerchief is drawn transversely across the apparatus'. The exact length for a handkerchief is then adjusted by producing a suitable amount of slack in the web portion. The blank is then clamped along its ends and cut off, and while it is still held in its cut position; the first fold is given to the 1inhemrned or raw ledges. The blank is then `moved longitudinally of the machine by blank feeding mechanismand as it is moved its raw edges are further folded by suitable hem formers. At the forward end of the apparatus aretwo sewing machines. rIhe blank feeding mechanism ad'- vances the blank substantially to the sewing machines and an auxiliary feed mechanism then moves the blank the remainder of the distance to the sewing machines ,which sew both hem folded edges simultaneously. The handkerchief is then complete. Y g

In the previous Patent No. 2,053,257 the blank feeding mechanism was comprised broadly of feed jaws Icarried by parallelly disposed racks mounted for longitudinal sliding movement in guides. These racks were there adapted to be reciprocated by pinions driven periodically. The

feed jaws were provided with serrated edges forV gripping the blank.

When the blank feeding mechanism reached the forward end of its movement, the auxiliary feed mechanism would engage the blank and move it beneath the presser feet of the sewing machines.

Since the blank feeding mechanism of the patent was provided with feeding jaws having serrated gripping surfaces there was no assurance that each blank moved forwardly thereby would be advanced to the same point. The auxiliary feed mechanism, consequently, would not always move each blank Iaccurately to its position be neath the presser'feet of the sewing machines.

The blank feeding mechanism of the patent was also subject to other disadvantages. Not only was the mechanism complex in nature, but each time a blank was moved forwardly in the machine toward the sewing machines, the racks would extend forwardly of the machine. In so doing they could easily cause injury to the operator. This hazardous condition has been eliminated by the present invention.

l it is a principal object of the invention to provide a simple and improved blank feeding mechanism for apparatus of 'the type shown and de-v scribed in Patent No. 2,053,257 but which, however, is not subject to the disadvantages referred to above. This 'and further objects of the invention Awill become more apparent from the following description and claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of apparatus embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View showing one-half of the apparatus, the auxiliary feed` mechanism being omitted for purposes of clarity;

Fig. 3` is a longitudinal sectional view taken on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation detail showing the manner of mounting one of the gripper feet, and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail rear view in perspective of one of the rear sprocket wheels and associated' mechanism.

In the figures the reference number l indicates the forward portion only of the main frame of an automatic handkerchief making apparatus of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,053,257. VThe frame ID is of rectangular box-shaped outline and includes upright members such as Il andtwo parallel longitudinal side members l2, only one of which is illustrated for purposes of simplification. Near the forward end of the frame l0 is a tranverse member I3 which is secured to the side members I2 and which extends the braekets s is e. cross bar ls and shafts 2o, 2 l.,

3 and 22. For purposes of simplification only one of each of the pairs of brackets has been illustrated.

Suitably supported above the main frame il and on substantially the level of the surface 23 of the sewing machines I4 are spaced parallel iiat strips 24 which are adapted to support the edges of a handkerchief blank as it is moved forwardly to the sewing machines as will be described. These parallel surfaces 24 are disposed intermediate the sides of the machine and are spaced apart less than the width of a handkerchief blank so that the handkerchief blank will be slack in the middle as it moves forwardly.

The strips 24 support folding means 25 for forming the raw edges of the blank into hem folds. Such folding means 25 form no part of the present invention and may, for example, be similar to the means shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,053,257 for accomplishing the same purpose. It is important, however, that a portion of the blank adjacent the hem line be supported by the strips while the blank is moved forwardly by the blank feeding mechanism which will now be described.

The b-lank feeding mechanism is comprised of a pair of endless chains disposed in vertical parallel planes directly above the strips 24. These chains carry gripper feet adapted to engage each handkerchief blank and press its side edge portions against the upper surfaces of said strips 24. The specific structure of the mechanism and the manner in which it is supported will now be described.

The rear brackets i are joined by a cross bar 25 and each bracket E5 has a rearwardly eiktending arm bifurcated to receive a journal block 29 for a transverse shaft 39. Mounted on tlhis shaft to` rotate therewith are two large spaced sprockets 3| The shaft 22 carried by the front brackets I5 have two smaller spaced sprockets 32 mounted thereon for free rotation with respect to the shaft 22.

Referring to Figs. i and 3 it will be seen that each rear large sprocket 3i is connected by an endless link chain 33 with its corresponding forward smaller sprocket 32.y As previously indicated each chain 33 is thus disposed in a vertical plane.

Each endless lin-k chain 33 has two special triangular links 34 and 35. Each triangular link carries a lateral stud 35 (see Figs. 4 and 5). Gripper levers 31, one for each triangular link, are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on the studs 35 and springs 38 are employed to urge each gripper lever 31 in a direction away from the chain. Each spring 33 is coiled about its stud and has one end secured to the stud while its other end extends along the gripper lever 31 and is hooked over the edge thereof as at 39 (see Figs. 4 and 5). From Fig. 4 it will be appreciated that the springs 35 will urge the gripper levers 31 downwardly so that the gripper feet 49 at the end of the gripper levers will press downwardly against the strips 24.

The sprocket, chain and gripper mechanism just described is disposed so that the chains will travel in parallel spaced vertical planes in vertical alignment with the spaced parallel strips 24. It should therefore now be clear that as the sprockets are rotated, the chains 33 and the gripper levers 31 they carry, will travel in paths directly above the spaced strips 24. Consequent.. ly, a handkerchief blank, if disposed with its opposed raw edges on said strips 24 and engaged by the gripper feet 40, will be moved forwardly toward the sewing machines I4.

- The brackets l5 and I 6 support rigid guide supports such as 4| which are disposed to engage the inner and bottom surfaces of the chains 33, thus preventing the chains from sagging inwardly or downwardly (Figs. 1 and 3) and thus insuring equal pressure of the gripper feet 40 against the blanks and the strips 40 supporting them during the time the gripper feet are moving a handkerchief blank forwardly.

The sprockets 3l may be rotated by any suitable means such as by a chain 42 connecting a sprocket 43 rigid on the shaft 39 with a sprocket driven by the main power source (not shown).

Means are provided to lower the gripper feet into Yengagement with the handkerchief blank at the beginning of the forward movement of the blank toward the sewing machines, and also to lift the gripper feet from :the handkerchief blank near the end of its forward movement as it approaches the sewing machines. The first of these means is comprised of two similar cams such as 44, one for each of the large rear sprocket wheels Si. These cams 44 are each disposed adjacent a large sprocket wheel 3l (see Fig. 5) and are carried by brackets such as 45 bolted or otherwise secured to the cross bar 2B (Fig. 3). Each cam 44 is provided with a lateral stud 46 (Fig. 5) which is adapted to be disposed in a hole in the end of a bracket 45. After each cam 44 is adjusted, its position may be xed by means of a set screw 41. Each gripper lever 31 carries a lateral pin 4', on its inner end, which pin 48 is disposed in the plane of its corresponding cam 44.

From Fig. 2 it should be clear that each cam 44, while engaging the pin 48 on a gripper lever 31, will keep the gripper foot 49 above the level of the strip 24 above which it travels. During this time the raw edges of a handkerchief blank are disposed on the strips 24 and as soon as each chain 33 has moved to the point where the pin 48 no longer engages the cam surface, the spring 38 will cause that gripper `foot 4] to engage the handkerchief blank against the surface.

At the forward end of the device the cross bar I9 (Figs. 2 and 3) by means of brackets 49, supports two cams, such as 59, one adjacent each of the smaller sprocket wheels 32. When each gripper lever 31 reaches the forward end of its path of travel the pin 48 carried by that gripper lever strikes the cam 59 in its path and the gripper foot is thus raised upwardly.

The gripper feet of the blank feeding mechanism just described are not illustrated as having sufficient forward movement to move the handkerchief blank directly to a position to be engaged by the sewing machines. Special auxiliary feed means are provided for engaging the handkerchief blank just as the gripper feet are raised. TheseV special means then move the blank to engagement by the sewing machines.

Specifically, the auxiliary means comprises a separate invention, but broadly speaking, reference now'being made to Fig. 1, this means may be comprised of a pair of pusher arms, such as 5|, provided with an edge 52 for engaging the stitch line of the forward hem of a handkerchief blank. These arms may be mounted on a rod 53 comprising a part of a swinging frame 54 which is pivotally mounted to oscillate about the axis of the shaft i8. The shaft I8 is rotatably mounted and is provided at one end with an arm 55 to which is secured one end of a rod 56 the other end of which (not shown) is provided with means for engaging a cam (not shown) driven by a suitable source. A spring 51 secured at one end to another arm 55a (also secured to shaft I8) and at the other end to the bracket i6 insures that the rod 55 follows the cam. The cam is so formed as to rock the swinging frame periodically.

An arm 58 is secured to the end of the rod 53 on which the pusher arms 5I are mounted. This arm is provided with a roller 59 adapted to en-y gage a cam surface B carried by an arm 6I rigid with bracket I6. A spring 62 maintains the roller 59 in contact with the cam surface 60.

The arrangement described is such that as the gripper feet 40 are lifted from the handkerchief Ablank at the forward end of the their path of movement, the swinging frame 54 will swing and the two pusher arms move forwardly over the blank until the edges 52 engage the inner edge of the forward hem of the handkerchief blank, whereupon the handkerchief blank is moved forwardly `to a position beneath the presser feet 53 of the sewing machines I4. The cam surface 60 disclosed is then such that as roller 59 on arm 58 rides over the cam surface the arm 58 will be pivoted and will turn shaft 53 so that the pusher arms 5i are lifted from the cloth just as the swinging frame 54 begins to swing rearwardly so as to place the pusher arms in position for the vnext advancing handkerchief blank.

As previously indicated, the raw or unhemmed side edges of each blank have, during forward movement, been folded by the hem folders 25, so as to be ready for hemming at the time they are moved to a point beneath the presser feet 63. The sewing machines I4, operating simultaneously then stitch the side hems, whereupon the handkerchief is completed. Now that the invention has beenI disclosed it will be evident that some changes in structure and arrangement can be made without departing from the invention which consequently is not to be limited except in accordance with the language of the claim which follows.

I claim:

of travel runs above and substantially parallel to one of said supports respectively, rigid straight guide supports positioned along said chains to support said portions against upward sagging, and gripping means carried by said chains and adapted to press opposite side edge portions of the blanks against said supports and to advance the blanks along theV supports toward the sewing machines, each of said chains having at least one enlarged triangular link, a gripper foot pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on said triangular link, and spring means for urging the gripper foot into blank engaging position, cam means disposed adjacent to sprocket wheels, the inner ends of said gripper feet having means for engaging said cam means to lower the gripper feet into blank engaging position at the beginning of the blank advancing movement and to raise the gripper feet from the blanks as the latterl approach the sewing machines.

GUSTAVE A. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2`7l993 Colcord May 22, 1883 669,111 Acklin Mar. 5, 1901 928,930 Billstrom July 27, 1909 1,249,533 Smith Dec. 11, 1917 1,915,765 Sharkey June 27, 1933 1,929,970 Floyd Oct. 10, 1933 2,053,257 Anderson Sept. 8, 1936 2,149,021 Hunt Feb. 28, 1939 

